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Nebraska Court of Appeals Advance Sheets

31 Nebraska Appellate Reports

EVAN S. V. LAURA H.

Cite as 31 Neb. App. 750

Evan S., appellant, v. 

Laura H., appellee.

___ N.W.2d ___

Filed April 11, 2023. No. A-22-230.

1. Motions to Dismiss: Pleadings: Appeal and Error. An appellate court 

reviews a district court’s order granting a motion to dismiss de novo, 

accepting the allegations in the complaint as true and drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving party.

2. Statutes: Appeal and Error. Statutory interpretation presents a question of law. On a question of law, an appellate court is obligated to 

reach a conclusion independent of the determination reached by the 

court below.

3. Jurisdiction: Appeal and Error. Before reaching the legal issues 

presented for review, an appellate court must determine whether it 

has jurisdiction.

4. Limitations of Actions: Jurisdiction. The failure to comply with a 

statute of limitations is not an issue of subject matter jurisdiction.

5. Jurisdiction: Paternity. District courts have subject matter jurisdiction 

of actions to determine paternity of a child.

6. Limitations of Actions: Pleadings. A challenge that a pleading is 

barred by the statute of limitations is a challenge that the pleading fails 

to allege sufficient facts to constitute a claim upon which relief can 

be granted.

7. Paternity: Statutes. Paternity proceedings are purely statutory, and 

because such statutes modify the common law, they must be strictly 

construed.

8. Statutes. Statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary 

meaning.

9. Presumptions: Proof: Words and Phrases. A presumption is the 

evidentiary assumption of one fact (the presumed fact) based upon 

proof of other facts (the predicate facts). The presumed fact is taken 

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www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/

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as true unless the opponent of the presumed fact meets a particular burden of proof.

10. Statutes: Legislature: Presumptions: Intent. In enacting a statute, 

the Legislature must be presumed to have knowledge of all previous 

legislation upon the subject. The Legislature is also presumed to know 

the language used in its statutes, and if a subsequent act on the same or 

similar subject uses different terms in the same connection, the court 

must presume that a change in the law was intended.

11. Paternity: DNA Testing: Presumptions. While a genetic test result 

may be evidence of paternity and can establish a rebuttable presumption of paternity, it is not in itself a legal determination of paternity in 

the same way as a signed and notarized acknowledgment of paternity 

may be.

12. Constitutional Law: Paternity: Time. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-1411 (Cum. 

Supp. 2022) is constitutional because it provides sufficient time for a 

natural parent, whether having custody of the child or not, to assert his 

or her rights.

Appeal from the District Court for Lancaster County: Lori 

A. Maret, Judge. Affirmed.

Nicholas R. Glasz for appellant.

Laura A. Lowe, P.C., for appellee.

Moore, Riedmann, and Bishop, Judges.

Bishop, Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Evan S. filed a complaint in October 2021 against Laura H. 

for “Paternity[,] Custody, Visitation and Support” of a minor 

child who was born in May 2017. The complaint was filed 

approximately 5 months past the 4-year statute of limitations 

to establish paternity set forth in Neb. Rev. Stat. § 43-1411 

(Cum. Supp. 2022). The Lancaster County District Court dismissed the case for “lack of subject matter jurisdiction” without any further explanation. On appeal, Evan contends the 

district court erred in dismissing the case, because genetic 

testing done within weeks of the child’s birth established his 

paternity, thus making the statute of limitations inapplicable. 
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He also argues that § 43-1411 violates the Nebraska and U.S. 

Constitutions. Although we disagree with the district court’s 

stated basis for dismissal, we nevertheless affirm the court’s 

dismissal of the action.

II. BACKGROUND

In Evan’s complaint against Laura, brought pursuant 

§ 43-1411, he alleged that the parties were never married 

but that N.H. “was born to the relationship between [Evan] 

and [Laura]” in May 2017. Evan claimed that paternity of 

N.H. had been established because he “previously submitted to [a] genetic test” and the results “established him to be 

the biological father” of N.H. Evan attached as an exhibit to 

his complaint a notarized “DNA Test Report” dated May 30, 

2017, which indicates that there is a “99.99999998% probability” that Evan is N.H.’s biological father. Evan requested 

that the district court determine paternity of N.H., award the 

parties joint legal and physical custody, order a parenting plan, 

determine child-related financial responsibilities, and order 

child support.

On November 10, 2021, Laura filed a “Special Appearance 

of Counsel” and a motion to dismiss Evan’s complaint for not 

being filed within the 4-year statute of limitations set forth 

in § 43-1411.

On November 16, 2021, the district court held a hearing 

on Laura’s motion to dismiss. Laura and Evan each appeared 

with counsel. Laura entered into evidence a sworn affidavit 

wherein she detailed her history with Evan. She stated that at 

the time of N.H.’s birth, Laura was legally separated from her 

husband, but not yet divorced; she and Evan “dated off and 

on for about a year,” and while they were living together, she 

became pregnant. Because she was still legally married when 

N.H. was born, action was taken to have an order entered 

in Lancaster County District Court, case No. CI 17-2784, to 

exclude Laura’s husband as N.H.’s father. The genetic test 

referenced above showing the 99.99-percent probability that 
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Evan was the father was submitted to the court at that time to 

support the order entered in August 2017 excluding Laura’s 

husband as N.H.’s father.

Laura claimed Evan moved out when she was 6 months 

pregnant, after which he moved to Colorado. Evan returned to 

Nebraska “about 2 weeks after [N.H.] was born,” stayed for 

“a week or two,” and then returned to Colorado. According to 

Laura, Evan saw N.H. only “periodically” for 4 years when he 

was living in Colorado, and then in August 2021, he “moved 

back wanting to be a dad to [N.H.]” Evan was present on 

N.H.’s first birthday, would visit two to three times a year, and 

would stay with Laura. Laura also traveled to Colorado “occasionally.” Laura permitted Evan to take N.H. “on a hiking/

backpacking trip in Colorado during the summer of 2020,” but 

this was the only time Evan had N.H. “for more than a day or 

2 overnight.” Laura stated that Evan “did provide some money 

to help with [N.H.], but [that] it was never consistent.”

Laura further averred that “Child Support Enforcement filed 

2 different cases against” Evan in Lancaster County District 

Court, one in August 2017 and one in April 2018, seeking 

to establish paternity and establish child support. However, 

according to Laura, both cases were dismissed for lack of service. Attempts at service had been made in Colorado, as well 

as at Evan’s parents’ house in Nebraska; Evan’s parents either 

could not or would not provide a Colorado address to assist 

in effecting service. Laura contended, “Evan knew that I was 

trying to get child support established and every time I got his 

address, he would move before he was served.”

In August 2021, Evan moved back to Lincoln, Nebraska, and 

stayed with Laura “for about 2 weeks.” Evan helped “watch 

the kids” while Laura was working in Omaha, Nebraska. 

According to Laura, Evan “wanted to make that a permanent 

arrangement,” and when she told him “no,” Evan “became 

very nasty, calling [her] names and berating [her] in front 

of the children.” Laura described other instances in which 

Evan engaged in inappropriate and violent behavior, as well 
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as described an example of her own poor judgment in driving 

while intoxicated with “the kids . . . in the car.”

Evan introduced, and the court received, the “DNA Test 

Report” that was attached to his complaint. In arguing her 

motion, Laura again pointed out that the 4-year limitations 

period had expired by the time Evan filed his complaint. 

In response, Evan claimed that the statute of limitations 

for paternity actions did not apply because he “already had 

paternity established.” The court requested that the parties 

brief the motion and stated that it would take the matter 

under advisement.

On March 4, 2022, the district court entered an “Order to 

Dismiss,” stating the following:

On November 16, 2021, the above matter came on for 

hearing on [Laura’s] Motion to Dismiss. . . . Exhibits 

were offered and received. Arguments were heard, and 

the parties were given time to brief the motion. After 

receipt of briefs, the court considered all of the evidence, 

arguments and briefs, and now finds that the case should 

be and hereby is dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.

Evan appeals.

III. ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR

Evan assigns, consolidated and restated, that the district 

court erred in (1) dismissing his complaint for lack of subject matter jurisdiction and (2) applying the 4-year statute of 

limitations set forth in § 43-1411 when paternity had already 

been established by the “DNA test,” which he claims “creates the same or greater presumption of paternity as a notarized acknowledgment of paternity.” Evan also contends that 

§ 43-1411 violates the Nebraska and U.S. Constitutions.

IV. STANDARD OF REVIEW

[1] An appellate court reviews a district court’s order granting a motion to dismiss de novo, accepting the allegations 
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in the complaint as true and drawing all reasonable inferences 

in favor of the nonmoving party. Chaney v. Evnen, 307 Neb. 

512, 949 N.W.2d 761 (2020).

[2] Statutory interpretation presents a question of law. See, 

State ex rel. Wagner v. Gilbane Bldg. Co., 280 Neb. 223, 

786 N.W.2d 330 (2010); State v. Decker, 261 Neb. 382, 622 

N.W.2d 903 (2001). On a question of law, an appellate court is 

obligated to reach a conclusion independent of the determination reached by the court below. Ruzicka v. Ruzicka, 262 Neb. 

824, 635 N.W.2d 528 (2001).

V. ANALYSIS

1. Jurisdiction

[3] Before reaching the legal issues presented for review, 

an appellate court must determine whether it has jurisdiction. 

Benjamin M. v. Jeri S., 307 Neb. 733, 950 N.W.2d 381 (2020). 

In its March 4, 2022, order, the district court granted Laura’s 

“Motion to Dismiss,” citing a lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The court provided no further explanation, so we can only 

conclude that its decision was based upon a finding that the 

4-year statute of limitations barred Evan’s claim. That was the 

issue raised in Laura’s motion to dismiss, and it was the focus 

of discussion during the hearing on that motion.

[4-6] However, dismissal for lack of subject matter jurisdiction was not a proper basis for dismissal in this case; the 

appropriate ground for dismissal would have been failure to 

state a claim upon which relief can be granted. The Nebraska 

Supreme Court has made it clear that the “failure to comply 

with a statute of limitations is not an issue of subject matter 

jurisdiction.” Benjamin M., 307 Neb. at 739, 950 N.W.2d at 

387. “We have consistently held that the district court has 

subject matter jurisdiction of an action to determine paternity 

of a child.” Id. at 738, 950 N.W.2d at 386. A challenge that 

a pleading is barred by the statute of limitations is a challenge that the pleading fails to allege sufficient facts to constitute a claim upon which relief can be granted. Benjamin 
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M., supra. However, in Benjamin M., because neither party 

raised the issue of subject matter jurisdiction on appeal, the 

Supreme Court proceeded with its analysis as if the district 

court had dismissed the case on the ground of failure to state 

a claim upon which relief could be granted. We will do the 

same here.

However, for the sake of completeness, we note Evan did 

assign as error that the district court erred in dismissing his 

case “for lack of subject matter jurisdiction,” but he did not 

provide any argument specific to that issue, other than to argue 

that the court had “jurisdiction pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 

§ 43-1238 as Nebraska is the home state of the child on the 

date of the commencement of the proceeding.” Brief for appellant at 7. However, as pointed out by Laura in her brief, Neb. 

Rev. Stat. § 43-1238 (Cum. Supp. 2022) of Nebraska’s Uniform 

Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act relates to a 

court’s jurisdiction over initial child custody matters and is 

not applicable to whether the 4-year statute of limitations contained in § 43-1411 bars Evan’s action to establish paternity. 

And although the district court mistakenly referenced a lack 

of subject matter jurisdiction, it is evident from the arguments 

made before the district court and in arguments on appeal that 

the dismissal of Evan’s complaint turned on whether it was 

barred by the 4-year statute of limitations. Accordingly, we 

will proceed to address those arguments.

2. Statute of Limitations for 

Paternity Actions

Actions to determine paternity are governed by Neb. Rev. 

Stat. §§ 43-1401 to 43-1418 (Reissue 2016 & Cum. Supp. 

2022). The statute of limitations for establishing paternity 

by judicial determination is provided in § 43-1411. Since the 

time Evan filed his complaint in October 2021, § 43-1411 was 

reformatted and what was subsection (2) became subsection 

(3). Because no substantive amendment was made, we cite to 

the statute in its current version, which states in relevant part:
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(1) A civil proceeding to establish the paternity of a 

child may be instituted, in the court of the district where 

the child is domiciled or found or, for cases under the 

Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, where the alleged 

father is domiciled, by:

(a) The mother or the alleged father of such child, 

either during pregnancy or within four years after the 

child’s birth, unless:

(i) A valid consent or relinquishment has been made 

pursuant to sections 43-104.08 to 43-104.24 or section 

43-105 for purposes of adoption; or

(ii) A county court or separate juvenile court has jurisdiction over the custody of the child or jurisdiction over 

an adoption matter with respect to such child pursuant to 

sections 43-101 to 43-116[.]

Section 43-1411(3) provides that when a juvenile court already 

has jurisdiction over a child, “a person claiming to be the 

biological father of a child . . . may file a complaint to intervene in such juvenile proceeding to institute an action to 

establish the paternity of the child.” No statute of limitations 

appears to be associated with that latter provision. However, 

since there is no juvenile court alleged to have jurisdiction in 

a proceeding involving N.H., § 43-1411(3) is not applicable 

here. Accordingly, we consider only whether the 4-year statute of limitations set forth in § 43-1411(1)(a) applies. Evan 

argues that the 4-year statute of limitations should not apply 

to his case, because paternity had already been established 

by the “DNA test,” which he claims “creates the same or 

greater presumption of paternity as a notarized acknowledgment of paternity.”

(a) Presumptions of Paternity

Evan cites to Benjamin M. v. Jeri S., 307 Neb. 733, 950 

N.W.2d 381 (2020), in support of his position that paternity 

had already been established by the genetic testing done in 

2017, just weeks after N.H. was born, and that therefore, 
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the 4-year statute of limitations to establish paternity should 

be inapplicable.

However, Benjamin M., supra, did not involve someone 

simply submitting to genetic testing; rather, in that case, the 

father had executed a notarized acknowledgment of paternity 

for both of his children within a day or two after they were 

born. More than 4 years later, he filed a complaint seeking to 

establish paternity, child custody, child support, and parenting 

time. The district court dismissed the case because the action 

was filed after the 4-year limitations period to establish paternity had expired. The Nebraska Supreme Court determined 

that the district court erroneously dismissed the case, because 

the notarized acknowledgments of paternity constituted legal 

determinations of the appellant’s paternity. Thus, the only 

issues that remained were child custody, child support, and 

parenting time.

In reaching its conclusion in Benjamin M., supra, the 

Supreme Court looked to the language of the paternity statutes, including § 43-1409, which explicitly states that after the 

expiration of a 60-day rescission period, “a signed, notarized 

acknowledgment is considered a legal finding which may be 

challenged only on the basis of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact with the burden of proof upon the challenger.” The 

Supreme Court held that “an unrescinded and unchallenged 

acknowledgment of paternity operates as a legal finding of 

paternity and that the proper legal effect of a signed, notarized 

acknowledgment is a finding that the individual who signed as 

the father is in fact the legal father.” Benjamin M., 307 Neb. 

at 740, 950 N.W.2d at 387-88. Pointing out that it had previously found that the “establishment of paternity by acknowledgment is the equivalent to the establishment of paternity 

by judicial proceeding,” it therefore concluded that based on 

the acknowledgments of paternity in that case, the father’s 

complaint to establish paternity should have been treated as a 

complaint to determine custody and support. Id. at 741, 950 

N.W.2d at 388. When paternity has been established by the 
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“execution of unrescinded and unchallenged acknowledgments 

of paternity,” paternity is “no longer an issue,” id. at 743, 950 

N.W.2d at 389, and the “court should treat the action as an 

action solely to determine custody and support,” id. at 744, 950 

N.W.2d at 390. The Supreme Court specifically found that the 

4-year statute of limitations in § 43-1411 did not bar an action 

for child custody and child support for a father who executed 

an acknowledgment of paternity.

Evan seeks the same outcome here, arguing that a “DNA 

test creates the same or greater presumption of paternity as a 

notarized acknowledgment of paternity” and “genetic testing is 

the . . . most advanced and accurate technology to determine 

parentage.” Brief for appellant at 6-7. As such, he claims the 

“DNA Test Report” finding a 99.99-percent probability that he 

is the biological father of N.H. constituted a legal determination of his paternity. Thus, after quoting from Benjamin M., 

supra, Evan asks this court to apply that precedent here, and 

“treat his action as an action to determine custody, visitation 

and support.” Brief for appellant at 6.

[7,8] While there is a persuasive logic to Evan’s argument that if an acknowledgment of paternity qualifies as a 

legal determination of paternity, then a genetic test showing a 99.99-percent probability of paternity should similarly 

qualify, we must nevertheless constrain ourselves to the plain 

language of the paternity statutes. See State on behalf of 

Miah S. v. Ian K., 306 Neb. 372, 945 N.W.2d 178 (2020) 

(paternity proceedings are purely statutory, and because such 

statutes modify common law, they must be strictly construed; 

statutory language is to be given its plain and ordinary meaning). And while there are similarities between the statutes 

addressing acknowledgments of paternity and genetic testing, 

there is also one significant distinction. We will start with 

the similarities.

[9] Evan is correct that when the results of a genetic 

test “show a probability of paternity of ninety-nine percent or more, there shall exist a rebuttable presumption of 
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paternity.” § 43-1415(2). Likewise, a signed and notarized 

acknowledgment of paternity “shall create a rebuttable presumption of paternity as against the alleged father.” § 43-1409. 

Accordingly, a statutory basis exists for a rebuttable presumption of paternity under either of these two alternatives. 

However, a rebuttable presumption by itself does not automatically result in a legal determination of paternity. “Broadly, 

a presumption (sometimes called a rebuttable presumption) 

is the evidentiary assumption of one fact (the presumed fact) 

based upon proof of other facts (the predicate facts).” Hopkins 

v. Hopkins, 294 Neb. 417, 428, 883 N.W.2d 363, 373 (2016). 

As applicable here, there is a presumed fact of paternity 

based upon proof of a genetic test showing a 99-percent 

probability of paternity or a signed and notarized acknowledgment of paternity. “The presumed fact is taken as true 

unless the opponent of the presumed fact meets a particular 

burden of proof.” Id. “In all cases not otherwise provided 

for by statute or by these rules a presumption imposes on the 

party against whom it is directed the burden of proving that 

the nonexistence of the presumed fact is more probable than 

its existence.” Neb. Evid. R. 301, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 27-301 

(Reissue 2016).

Additionally, to prove the predicate facts, a genetic test 

“shall be admissible evidence” and “may be introduced by 

verified written report without the need for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or accuracy unless there is 

a timely written request for personal testimony of the expert at 

least thirty days prior to trial.” § 43-1415. See, also, State on 

behalf of Dady v. Snelling, 10 Neb. App. 740, 637 N.W.2d 906 

(2001) (despite objection, genetic test showing 99.99-percent 

probability of paternity created rebuttable presumption and 

was sufficient evidence to establish paternity without need for 

other evidence). Similarly, a “signed and notarized acknowledgment of paternity . . . shall be admissible in evidence 

in any proceeding to establish paternity without the need 

for foundation testimony or other proof of authenticity or 
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accuracy.” § 43-1412(1). See, also, State on behalf of B.M. v. 

Brian F., 288 Neb. 106, 846 N.W.2d 257 (2014) (§ 43-1409 

creates evidentiary rebuttable presumption of paternity and 

provides that acknowledgment is admissible evidence). Again, 

the statutes related to genetic testing and an acknowledgment 

of paternity are similar in that they provide for the admissibility of such evidence without the need for foundation testimony 

or other proof of authenticity or accuracy, thus clearing the 

way for a legal determination of paternity.

However, despite these similarities, the Nebraska Legislature 

elected to treat a signed and notarized acknowledgment of 

paternity differently from genetic testing in a significant aspect. 

In § 43-1409, a person signing an acknowledgment of paternity 

has the right to rescind that acknowledgment within the earlier 

of 60 days or the date of an administrative or judicial proceeding relating to the child. Once the rescission period has passed, 

however, “a signed, notarized acknowledgment is considered 

a legal finding which may be challenged only on the basis of 

fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact with the burden of 

proof upon the challenger.” § 43-1409. “[T]he proper legal 

effect of a signed, unchallenged acknowledgment of paternity 

is a finding that the individual who signed as the father is in 

fact the legal father.” Cesar C. v. Alicia L., 281 Neb. 979, 985, 

800 N.W.2d 249, 254 (2011) (even though genetic test ruled 

out man as biological father of child, establishment of paternity by his acknowledgment was equivalent to establishment 

of paternity by judicial proceeding; his complaint to establish 

paternity should have been treated as complaint to determine 

custody and support).

[10] The “legal finding” language contained in § 43-1409 

related to a rebuttable presumption of paternity under an 

acknowledgment of paternity is not contained in § 43-1415 

related to a rebuttable presumption of paternity when a genetic 

test shows a 99-percent probability of paternity. The rebuttable presumption language contained in both §§ 43-1409 

and 43-1415 was added to both statutes in 1994. See 1994 
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Neb. Laws, L.B. 1224, §§ 58 and 62. However, when the “legal 

finding” language was added to § 43-1409 in 1997, it was not 

added to § 43-1415. In enacting a statute, the Legislature must 

be presumed to have knowledge of all previous legislation 

upon the subject. Alisha C. v. Jeremy C., 283 Neb. 340, 808 

N.W.2d 875 (2012). The Legislature is also presumed to know 

the language used in its statutes, and if a subsequent act on the 

same or similar subject uses different terms in the same connection, the court must presume that a change in the law was 

intended. Id. The Legislature could have given the same effect 

to a genetic test showing a 99-percent probability of paternity 

as it gave to a signed and notarized acknowledgment of paternity, but it did not do so. We cannot read into the statute something which is not plainly there.

[11] In summary, while a genetic test result may be evidence of paternity and can establish a rebuttable presumption 

of paternity, it is not in itself a legal determination of paternity 

in the same way as a signed and notarized acknowledgment of 

paternity may be. As such, the 4-year statute of limitations set 

forth in § 43-1411 applies to Evan’s action to establish paternity. Unfortunately, despite knowing there was a 99.99-percent 

probability that he was N.H.’s father since at least May 2017 

when genetic testing was conducted, Evan waited more than 4 

years to bring a paternity action, and therefore, he is now statutorily barred from doing so.

(b) No Exception Under § 43-1411

Evan further argues that “Nebraska law is clear that there 

are additional exceptions to the four year statute of limitations for a civil proceeding to establish paternity of a child.” 

Brief for appellant at 7. He quotes from § 43-1411, which 

we set forth in relevant part previously, and emphasizes with 

boldface type the exception found at § 43-1411(1)(a)(ii), 

which creates an exception to the limitations period when “a 

county court or separate juvenile court has jurisdiction over 

the custody of the child.” Evan offers no discussion as to why 
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this portion of the statute has any applicability in the present 

matter. As we set forth previously, there is no evidence in the 

record to indicate that there was any county court or separate 

juvenile court proceeding pending with jurisdiction over N.H. 

Without such a case, this exception is not applicable.

3. Constitutionality of § 43-1411

Evan also argues that § 43-1411 is unconstitutional because 

it runs afoul of the Nebraska and U.S. Constitutions’ guarantees of the right of parents to “direct the care, custody, and 

control of their children.” Brief for appellant at 8. He argues 

that application of the statute of limitations to bar his paternity 

action “denie[s] his due process rights guaranteed to him by 

the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution 

and Article I-3 of the Nebraska State Constitution.” Brief for 

appellant at 8. He also argues that § 43-1411 “sets an arbitrary statute of limitations of four years,” suggesting that any 

time limitation on a parent’s right to assert his or her right to 

bring a paternity action is unconstitutional. Brief for appellant at 9.

[12] Our record does not show that Evan presented this 

issue to the district court, at least based upon the oral arguments made at the hearing on Laura’s motion to dismiss. Thus, 

we are not required to address the argument on appeal. V.C. 

v. Casady, 262 Neb. 714, 634 N.W.2d 798 (2001) (issues not 

presented to trial court may not be raised on appeal). That said, 

we nevertheless point out that the Nebraska Supreme Court 

has previously held that § 43-1411 is constitutional because 

it provides sufficient time for a natural parent, whether having custody of the child or not, to assert his or her rights. See 

Bryan M. v. Anne B., 292 Neb. 725, 737, 874 N.W.2d 824, 834 

(2016) (in dismissal of paternity action brought 8 years after 

birth of child, Supreme Court found § 43-1411 did not violate biological father’s due process rights; “[r]ather than diligently and prudently attempting to establish paternity within 

the first 4 years after [child’s] birth, [biological father] did 
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nothing for 8 years”). See, also, State on behalf of S.M. v. 

Oglesby, 244 Neb. 880, 510 N.W.2d 53 (1994) (State’s petition to establish paternity more than 12 years after child’s birth 

permitted under § 43-1411 and did not violate Equal Protection 

Clause of either Nebraska or U.S. Constitution).

VI. CONCLUSION

Although for reasons different from the district court’s as 

set forth above, we affirm the court’s dismissal of Evan’s 

complaint.

Affirmed.